Picture frame



' Oct. 27, 1953 H. DETJE 2,656,632

PICTURE FRAME Filed June 30, 1950 Fl INVI E'NTOR.

G Henry De'lje ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITIEZD STATES PATENT 2,656,632 OFFICE assacsz I PICTURE Ileana hetie, Denven, Colo.

Application June 30, 1950,. SjcxrialzNo. 111,513

(Cl. m -15st The present; invention relates to niotu-ize frames Iona-Ste do oarticulanylalth ushnot ex lusively, with. picture frames havin op n fr n port ns closed: by class or: othen tcansna pan ls hav ins orefeizohlv bevelled edges. uslne single or double stren th thxead.

Qne of the objects of; the present invention. is to provide a new and improved picture fram of the foregoing. character; who ein the componen parts forming; the entir nictu e f am ncluding the picture. therein, easily as em led and held inoperative relationship by means car i bv the frame n rtion i th struc ure pr ferably; at diametrically oil-p sed portions thereof.

A, further object of the; present invention is to provide an, improved p'ictnhe frame in accordancewith the p fi d D p wherein 6 of the means for holding the parts; in assembled relationship is preferably immovable, and wherein th other means for this purpose is movable or adjustable relative to the frame to permit assembly and disassembly-of; the parts.

Another object of the. pres t inv nti n i to provide. an improved pic ure theme of the for some character havin imnnoved combined means for supnorting. theframe uptight position upon a. flat, on the. like, supporting eurfaoe or: for suspendingly supporting? the picture frame on an upright, surface, such as a wall.

Another object of the. mtesent invention is to provide an improved picture framein, which the backing member or portion of the frame may be formed integral with the surrounding frame member or portion; another objectofthe, inven-. tion being to provide the backing portion or member and the. surrounding frame portion, or member asseparate. parts. capable of assembly and disassembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ornamentally attractive frame which is of relatively simple construe! tion, of durable. nature, and relativeh inexpensive tomanufacture;

The foregoing and other objects and advan tages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

- In said drawing: I Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the picture frame of Fig. 1', being taken substantially alon the 1.,ine,2-2 f 515- looking in the direction of the arrow with th backing plate or member. th p ctur nd. th trans parent face plate f the frame embly looms mi ed.

Figs 3 is a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing a part of the lower; poi ti'on of the picture fi ame and assembled picture of Fig; 1, and indicating the relative position of th 1 13 15173 in. th region of he movab m an f r h lding the parts in. s mbl rela ion hip.

i is, a fragmentary front elevational View, tly bizoken away, illustrating th lower norti nof. theoioture f ame of Fig. 1 and indicatin he two xtizeme p sitions of the movable means for. maintaining the comp nent par s of the p tui' framoin a sembled relationshi Eig, 5 is a fragmentary rearelevational View f: he remova l backi g plate r member an the implroved, pioture framesupporting means embody ng thoinv nt o Fig. 6 is a f agmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of, the backing plate of the pictureframe assembly and indicating the easel-.- liloe supporting, member in operative position in full lines and wth the suspending; means for the frame structure in operative position in broken lines.

Fig. 7 is a, front elevational view, partly broken away, of a somewhat modified form of picture frame, embodying the present invention, wherein the surrounding portion or portions of the frame. and the backing plate or member thereof are formed as. an integral structure, the clamping member at the bottom being shown in on on po ition; and

Fi 8 isan explo ed p rsp tive, w of a ome What modified t m f. o n m ntal. ampin mc sem odv ngl ho i ht n-v Before explaining in detail the present invention t is. to be. underst od hat the n e ti n is not limited. n ts. application, to th de a s of construction and ani angement of parts illustrated in, the, accompanying drawing, since the invention, is. capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is, t0. he understood also, that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of des r pti n and not f m at on d t is not intended to l m t the n n ion m d h in beyond the requirements of the prior art.

W th particular fe ce o F g 1 ou 5 f. the drawing, 0. repr s t as a ole, on form of. picture frame ass mbly em o y h h lesent invention. shown, this assembly includes a surrounding frame member or portion l l which as, shown, is generally of angle for-. moti n hav ng a back lange I la a d a r ht angula y disp sed side fl n e lib. he back? ins Pla n the Pres n or f th in nt a. snoarate m mber and is ndi ed as a Whole at r2 i Eigs 5 and 6,. The backing plate 12 congest on oa use support ng memb s siwineably a tached at its upper. end to mem her I: nrof rob y by means. of a bent relatively stifl, wire member l4i. It will he understood that e eas i-l e. member can be swung from its V full line positionoi F g. 6, to its broken line positi-on in that figure, namely froina picture framesupp -po i to. an ino erat e posi ion- The picture frame supporting means of the present invention is of improved nature pro; v d s com n d m ans, for e er s poortingfth picture frame l0 upon a plane surface in an upright position or for suspendingly supporting or hanging the picture frame upon an upright surface, such as a wall. member I2 is provided with a horizontal slot or opening I5, see Figs. 5 and 6, preferably in a position adjacent the upper end of the easel-like member I3 and preferably concealed by the upper The backing plate orr end thereof, as best seen in Fig. 6. The slot I5 is exposed in Fig. 5 and appears to be positioned above the upper end of member I3. This illustration is merely for purposes of clarity and it is preferable to have the slot 65 concealed beneath the easel-like member if, as seen in Fig. 6. A length of tape or other flexible material it is secured to the inner surface of easel member I3 and extends through a second slot I'I formed in backing plate E2. The tape it extends upwardly as seen in 6 and is provided at its upper end with a ring or loop it. The tape is also provided with a stop member, such as a pin I9, to prevent the easel member $3 from being swung outwardly away from backing plate l2 beyond the position in which it is shown in 6. When it is desirable to support the picture frame upon a plane surface, the easel is employed in its full line position. When, however, it is desirable to hang the picture upon a wall surface, the ring or loop I8 is passed through slot i5 and moved to its broken line position of Fig. 5, whereupon it can be appli d to a picture hook, nail or the like to suspendingly support the frame. In this latter condition, it will be understood that the easellike member lies flat against the backing plate I52, as seen in broken lines in Fig. 6.

The picture frame and picture assembly of the form of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, includes, in addition to the parts previously described, the picture itself, indicated at 2t and a transparent facing member, preferably glass, as indicated at 2!. it is desirable to bevel this transparent member or glass panel, as indicated at 22,

particularly Fig.

The surrounding frame member II carries at its upper portion an ornamental glass panelengaging and supporting member 23. This member has a back depending flange 24 which permits it to be riveted, welded, or otherwise secured to the upright flange i Ia of the surrounding frame member Ii, and a front relatively shorter depending flange or downward projection 25, see Fig. 2 which is adapted to engage the bevelled portion 22 of the glass panel when the parts are assembled. The movable glass panehengaging means or member is preferably carried by the surrounding frame 5 I at a point generally diametrically opposite the non-moving member This movable or adjustable means or member is shown as a whole at 26 and is preferably in the form of an angle, having a base portion 28a, an upstanding rear flange or portion b and a front upstanding flange or portion 260. The member 25 may be of any desired length but is preferably generally equal in length to the opposed member 23.

It is to be noted particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing that the upright flange or portion I Ia of the surrounding frame member Ii is provided with a pair of an ularly disposed socalled cam slots or openings 2'! which are inclined gradually from the bottom flange II b upwardly toward the top edge of the rear flange I Ia.

The movable or adjustable clamping member 2%; is provided with a pair of headed pins or members 2b which are, as shown, carried by the rear upright flange 26!) thereof and which pins extend through the slots 21. Thus it will be seen that the clamping member 26 is capable of being moved relative to frame I I and during this movement will travel longitudinally with relation to the frame and will also move angularly toward and away from the flange IIb thereof. The two extreme positions of the member 26 are indicated in full and in broken lines in Fig. 4.

When it is desired to assemble the parts of the picture frame, the removable backing plate or member I2 with its picture frame supporting means is placed within the surrounding frame member II so that the backing member engages the back flange I Id. The picture 20 is now placed in position upon the backing member, whereupon the bevel edged transparent panel or glass member 2 I is laid in position upon the other assembled parts. It will be understood that one extremity of each of the members I2, 20 and 2I underlies the depending flange 25 of the ornamental frame member 23. By slight pressure upon the opposite end of the transparent panel 2| the parts are all moved toward the flange Ila of the surrounding frame member, whereupon the clamping member or bar 26 is moved from its broken line position of Fig. 4 to its full line position in that figure. In this latter position, the front upright flange or projection 250 of member 26 will firmly engage the bevelled portion 22 of the glass panel 2i, holding the part in their assembled positions, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. When it is desirable to remove the component parts of the picture frame assembly, it is merely necessary to grasp the retaining bar 26 and shift it from its full line position of Fig. 4 to the broken line position of that figure, Whereupon the several parts can be removed from the surrounding picture frame member II.

It is to be understood that whereas it is rel- I atively easy to shift the clamping member 26 relative to the frame member II, the slot and pins hav a relatively snug fit to produce frictional contact. This will cause the member 26 to remainin either of its extreme positions without any danger of its accidental movement relative to the frame member I I.

While the slots 21 and the pins 23 of the cooperating parts have been shown as being located in the rear or upright flange I la of the surrounding frame member II, it will be understood that these or similar parts may be provided in the right angularly disposed surrounding flange IIb. That is to say that the slots 21 may be provided in the flange I lb and that the pins 28 may be carried by the bottom flange or portion 25a of the adjustable clamping member 2 6-.

With particular reference now to Fig. 7 0f the drawing, there is shown in this figure a slightly modified form of picture frame embodying the present invention. In this form of the invention the backing plate H2 is preferably formed integral with the surrounding frame member I I I. The surrounding frame member carries an ornamental member I23 which corresponds to the member 23 of Fig. 1 and there is provided a movable or adjustable clamping member I26 which corresponds to the clamping member 26 of the preceding form of the invention. It is to be noted that the backing member H2 is provided with a horizontal slot or opening I I 5 and with two holes or openings I I to disposed at the ends of the slot. These openings I Ida are provided for the purpose of receiving the leg portions of a preferably stiff wire hinge member (not shown) which is similar to the member I4 of Figs. 5 and 6, said member being provided for the purpose of holding an easel-like member to the back II2 of the frame assembly in substantially the same manner as in connection with the preceding form of the invention. Member I26 is shown in open position.

The elongated opening or slot H5 is provided for the purpose of permitting the ring member I8 and tape I6 of the combined supporting device to be passed through the backing plate II2 from the interior thereof to the exterior thereof when it is desirable to support the frame of Fig. '7 upon a wall surface. The backing member I I2 is also provided with a slot II! to permit the tape (not shown) similar to tape I6 to be passed from one side of the plate to the other side to support the easel member (not shown) While I have disclosed the use of a transparent panel, such as glass panel 2I which has bevelled surrounding edges, it will be understood that a plain sheet or panel of glass, without any bevelling, may be substituted. It is merely necessary that the opposed edges of the glass panel be engaged by the non-movable ornamental frame member 23 and by the movable or adjustable, as well as ornamental clamping member 25.

While I have shown a more or less conventional oblong type of picture frame in the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the frame may be of any desired shape. It may be square, oval, or round.

Whereas I prefer to employ metal for forming the frame portions II, III, H2, 23, 26, I23 and I26, with said metal being highly polished to provide a pleasing and attractive finish, other suitable materials may be employed from which to make these members.

With particular reference to Fig. 8 of the draw ing, there is shown a somewhat modified form of adjustable and removable frame ornamenting clamping member, or the like. A member such as is shown in fragmentary detail in Fig. 8 may be employed at the upper end of the frame to replace either of the ornamental members 23 or I 23 of the preceding forms of the invention.

A portion or short section at the upper side of the surrounding or marginal frame member of the structure is shown as a whole at 50 in Fig. 8. This frame member is generally similar to frame member II of Fig. 1 and comprises an angle-like member having an upright flange 5| and a somewhat shorter outwardly projecting flange 52. The flange 5| is provided with a pair of upwardly inclined key hole slots 53, 53 Whose larger upper ends admit the heads of studs or pins 54 carried by the removable ornamental clamping member, shown as a whole at 55. This member 55, as shown, has an upright or back flange portion 56 which carries the studs or pins 54, a forwardly projecting flange or portion 51 and a relatively short forward depending flange 58, which latter is adapted to engage over the adjacent edge of the glass and hold it in place when the ornamental clamping member 55 is moved to its operative position with relatio to the frame 50. As shown, the top or horizontal flange 51 is provided with any suitable ornamentation, such as the attached or integral pieces or members 59 and 60, seen in Fig. 8.

It Will be understood that to apply the member 55 to the upper portion of frame 50, the heads of the pins 54 are aligned with the larger ends of the key hole slots 53, inserted therein, whereupon the member 55 is moved relative to frame member 50 which causes member 55 to move into engagement with member 50 and also brings the flange 58 into position to engag the glass arranged in the picture frame. It is not necessary to separate the member 55 from frame member 50 in order to release the glass but by making the member 55 completely removable, it will be seen that another generally similar member having a different style of ornamentation from that represented by the strips 59 and 60, may be substituted.

When the type of adjustable and removable clamping member shown in Fig. 8 is employed withone of the picture frames of the preceding views, it may be unnecessary to provide an adjustable clamping member, such as either of the members 25 or I26, at the opposite side of the picture frame. It may, however, be desirable in some instances to provide adjustable clamping members at opposed sides of the frame, although ordinarily one such member which is movable or adjustable and/or removable, will suffice.

With further reference to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the flange 52 of member 50 is relatively narrow, thus permitting the moving away of member 55 a sufficient distance from member 50 to release or free the heads of pins 54 from the enlarged ends of the cam-like slots 53.

I claim:

1. A surrounding frame member for a picture frame assembly, comprising a back flange and a side flange disposed at right angles to each other, an ornamental transparent panel-engaging member carried by one side of the frame member and immovable with respect thereto, and a movable panel-engaging member disposed at the opposite side of the frame, said last-named member and said frame having cooperating cam slots and pins whereby to permit said member to be shifted relative to said frame member to engage or disengage a transparent panel carried by the frame member to hold the panel in the frame member or to release the same from said frame member.

2. A surrounding frame member according to claim 1, wherein the slots are provided in the frame member, and wherein the cooperating pins are carried by the movable panel-engaging member.

3. A picture frame provided with means for holding it in upright position and comprising a surrounding frame member, a backing plate within said frame member, means carried by said frame member for engaging a transparent panel member associated with the surrounding frame member, and movable means also carried by said frame member at an opposite side thereof for engagement with said transparent panel member to removably support the transparent panel member in position with relation to the frame member, said frame member and said movable means having cooperating slots and pins to permit said movable means to be shifted simultaneously in longitudinal and transverse directions relative to said surrounding frame member.

HENRY DETJE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,410,989 Mevi Nov. 12, 1946 2,450,495 Ullmann Oct. 5, 1948 FOREllGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,412 Great Britain June 24, 1908 

